My Name Is Blessing Archives - Page 2 of 3

September 4, 2014September 4, 2014

Finalists for the 2014 Canadian Children’s Book Centre Awards

The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) has announced the finalists for its seven major children’s book awards – the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse, Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction, Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People, John Spray Mystery Award, and the Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy.

The nominated books exemplify some of the best work by Canadian authors and illustrators. The following Tundra titles have been chosen:

MARILYN BAILLIE PICTURE BOOK AWARD

My Name Is Blessing
Written by Eric Walters
Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes
Hardcover | 32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-301-8
“This story of an African boy plagued by disability, poverty and prejudice, and ultimately saved by love, is unfailingly respectful… Every child can be enriched by the unsentimental, honest and enlightening text and be carried away by the beautifully realized art suffused with the burnt orange tones of the African Savannah… The turn of phrase reflected in the title is highly poignant.” – Jury Comments

Where Do You Look?
Written by Marthe Jocelyn and Nell Jocelyn
Hardcover | 32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-376-6
“A series of wonderful double-entendres that introduce language concepts in a playful way, this book contains few words but hours of fun… The playful joys and puzzles of language are presented with exuberant high spirits, in cleverly chosen words and brilliantly patterned collage illustrations reminiscent of folk art… This mother-daughter team brings artful layers to a seemingly simple concept.” – Jury Comments

Congratulations to the other finalists in this category: Fox and Squirrel by Ruth Ohi, How To by Julie Morstad, and The Man with the Violin by Kathy Stinson and illustrated by Dušan Petričić.

NORMA FLECK AWARD FOR CANADIAN CHILDREN’S NON-FICTION

My Name Is Blessing
Written by Eric Walters
Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes
Hardcover | 32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-301-8
“This picture book explores the universal feelings of fear of rejection and joy of acceptance… Based upon a true story, My Name Is Blessing details the plight of a young boy in Kenya living with a physical disability and challenging living circumstances… Eugenie Fernandes’ colourful renditions of the young boy’s family and changing circumstances compliment Eric Walters’ direct narrative with an understated grace.” – Jury Comments

Congratulations to the other finalists in this category: Branded by the Pink Triangle by Ken Setterington, A History of Just About Everything: 180 Events, People and Inventions That Changed the World by Elizabeth MacLeod and Frieda Wishinsky and illustrated by Qin Leng, The Last Train: A Holocaust Story by Rona Arato, and Looks Like Daylight: Voices of Indigenous Kids by Deborah Ellis.

GEOFFREY BILSON AWARD FOR HISTORICAL FICTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Little Red Lies
Written by Julie Johnston
Hardcover | 352 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-313-1
eBook: 978-1-77049-314-8
“Set in the aftermath of World War II, Little Red Lies includes many elements that contribute to the theme of hiding secrets… Unflinchingly honest, Julie Johnston’s story of a 13-year-old girl living in post-World War II Canada will resonate with young adult readers… On the surface, the novel is about a soldier’s return from war, but under the layers of work, school and relationships linger the extraordinary truths held by Johnston’s characters…” – Jury Comments

Congratulations to the other finalists in this category: Brothers at War by Don Cummer, Graffiti Knight by Karen Bass, The Manager by Caroline Stellings, and Me & Mr. Bell by Philip Roy.

Thank you to the judges for their considerations and again, congratulations to our authors, illustrators, and our hardworking publishing team! The winners will be announced at the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards Gala on Thursday, November 6, 2014.

August 1, 2014August 1, 2014

2013 Rainforest of Reading Award Nominee

My Name is Bleassing has been nominated for the second annual 2014 Rainforest of Reading® Award. Congratulations to Eric Walters and Eugenie Fernandes!

My Name Is Blessing
Written by Eric Walters
Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 6-9
ISBN 978-1-77049-301-8
“This expressive picture book, based on a real family, lovingly tells a hard story with a twist. It’s difficult to broach poverty, disability and custody issues in so few pages without sounding maudlin, but Walters manages by speaking simply. . . . With dignity and quiet acceptance, this story illustrates that blessings, like family, can take unexpected forms.” — Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews

The Rainforest of Reading Award is a book festival featuring award-winning children’s books from Canada; it has planted roots in every primary school in Saint Lucia, Grenada and Montserrat. It is the largest literacy initiative ever undertaken in a region still reeling from infrastructure damage caused by Hurricane Ivan (2006) and Hurricane Tomas (2010) and the economic impact of a global recession.

Congratulations to the other nominees as well!
Don’t Laugh at Giraffe written and illustrated by Rebecca Bender
Willow Finds a Way written by Lana Button, illustrated by Tania Howells
Skink on the Brink written by Lisa Dalrymple, illustrated by Suzanne Del Rizzo
Postcards from Space: The Chris Hadfield Story written by Heather Down
Gabby written by Joyce Grant, illustrated by Jan Dolby
And the Winner is … Amazing Animal Athletes written by Etta Kaner, illustrated by David Anderson
Pterosaur Trouble written by Daniel Loxton, illustrated by Daniel Loxton with Jim W. W. Smith
Mr. Flux written by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Matte Stephens
Anna Carries Water by Olive Senior, illustrated by Laura James
Kenta and the Big Wave written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi

June 17, 2014June 19, 2014

2014 ALA Annual Conference

Tundra Books will be exhibiting at ALA Annual Conference this year! Please visit Tara and Sylvia at booth #245 to learn about our new and upcoming books – and to pick up bookmarks, teacher guides, posters, recipe cards, art cards, postcards, buttons, ARCs, and more!

We will have author and illustrator signings at our booth! With each author signing, we will be handing out complimentary copies of the title at a first come, first serve basis. So don’t forget! There’s a limited number of signed books to give away!

Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 10 AM – Eric Walters will be signing copies of My Name Is Blessing
My Name Is Blessing
Written by Eric Walters
Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes
Hardcover | Ages 6-9 | 32 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-301-8
“This expressive picture book, based on a real family, lovingly tells a hard story with a twist. It’s difficult to broach poverty, disability and custody issues in so few pages without sounding maudlin, but Walters manages by speaking simply. . . . With dignity and quiet acceptance, this story illustrates that blessings, like family, can take unexpected forms.” — Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews

Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 2 PM – Dan Bar-el will be signing copies of Nine Words Max and chap books of Audrey (cow)
Nine Words Max
Written by Dan Bar-el
Illustrated by David Huyck
Hardcover | Ages 5-9 | 32 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-562-3
“Vancouver author Dan Bar-el and Idaho illustrator David Huyck bring young readers aged five to nine a fun, but cautionary tale about today’s obsession with media, fascination with speaking in 140 characters or less and the importance of conversation.” — The Cambridge Times

Audrey (cow)
Written by Dan Bar-el
Illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss
Hardcover | Ages 7-10 | 256 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-602-6
Audrey is a cow with poetry in her blood, who yearns for the greener pastures beyond Bittersweet Farms. But when Roy the horse tells this bovine dreamer that she is headed for Abbot’s War, the slaughter house, Audrey knows that she must leave her home and friends sooner than she ever imagined. With the help of a whole crew of animals and humans alike, Audrey attempts to escape the farm she lives on – and certain death. Cleverly written as an oral account, this unique illustrated tale of an animal on the run, told “to camera”, uses over thirty narrative voices, including six humans, four cows, three sheep, two sheep dogs, one pig and a very silly rooster. Full of heart and humor, Audrey (cow) is ultimately a very human story about life and death, friendship, and holding on to one’s dreams – based more or less on a true story.

Sunday, June 29, 2014 at 10 AM – Linda Bailey and Colin Jack will be signing copies of If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur
If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur
Written by Linda Bailey
Illustrated by Colin Jack
Hardcover | Ages 3-7 | 40 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-568-5
“. . . a tongue-in-cheek user’s guide to prehistoric pets. . . . Colin Jack’s quirky illustrations have a retro-inspired design and are as cheery and bright as a Saturday morning cartoon. . . . The pages are packed with funny details that adults will enjoy as well. . . . Readers are not to despair if they don’t have a dinosaur of their own lying around. The open ending invites lots of animated and imaginative discussions about what to do with other odd and unusual pets like a dodo, a porcupine, or a sasquatch. This wacky, zany tale is a storytime crowd pleaser.” — Children’s Book Review

We can’t wait to see you at the Grand Opening Reception on the exhibit floor! Viva Las Vegas!

Follow @TundraBooks, @EricRWalters, @huyckd, and @colinjack8 on twitter. If visuals are more your thing, follow @TundraBooks, @tatjanamaiwyss, and @colinjack8 on instagram! You can also follow #alaac14 for the latest news and updates!

March 13, 2014

Notable Books for a Global Society Book Award

Tundra Books is happy to announce that the following books have been named to the 2014 Notable Books for a Global Society winners’ list!

Legends, Icons & Rebels
Music That Changed the World
Written by Robbie Robertson, Jim Guerinot, Sebastian Robertson, and Jared Levine
Hardcover with 2 CDs | 128 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-571-5
“Wow, just wow! This book is big in every way. . . . The book’s art is hard to resist . . . it’s a treat that the words grab as much as the pictures.” — Starred Review, Booklist

My Name Is Blessing
Written by Eric Walters
Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 6-9
ISBN: 978-1-77049-301-8
“This expressive picture book, based on a real family, lovingly tells a hard story with a twist. It’s difficult to broach poverty, disability and custody issues in so few pages without sounding maudlin, but Walters manages by speaking simply. . . . With dignity and quiet acceptance, this story illustrates that blessings, like family, can take unexpected forms.” — Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews

About Notable Books for a Global Society
This award is sponsored by the International Reading Association (IRA) Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group. Each year a panel of judges selects 25 books published in the preceding year to represent the interests of students in grades K-12 on the many issues of diversity, social justice, and multicultural literature. More information about the committee and all past winners’ lists can be found on their website.

January 30, 2014January 31, 2014

2014 OLA Super Conference

Sorry! Due to technically difficulties, we weren’t able to post this earlier, but it is better late than never! Tundra Books will be exhibiting at the OLA Super Conference this year! Please visit us at booth #716-724 to learn about our new and upcoming books. And, we will be having author signings at our booth! With each author signing, we will be handing out complimentary copies of the title at a first come, first serve basis. So don’t forget! There’s a limited number of signed books to give away!

Natale on Thursday, January 30, 2014 at 10:30 a.m.
Millhouse
Written by Natale Ghent
Hardcover | 192 Pages | Ages 7-10
ISBN 978-1-77049-639-2
eBook 978-1-77049-641-5
Fans of the I, Freddy series and Charlotte’s Web will be won over by this charming, delightfully told and illustrated story of a petshop misfit – a hairless guinea pig with a penchant for Shakespeare.

Eric on Thursday, January 30, 2014 at 11:30 a.m.
My Name Is Blessing
Written by Eric Walters
Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 6-9
ISBN 978-1-77049-301-8
“This expressive picture book, based on a real family, lovingly tells a hard story with a twist. It’s difficult to broach poverty, disability and custody issues in so few pages without sounding maudlin, but Walters manages by speaking simply…. With dignity and quiet acceptance, this story illustrates that blessings, like family, can take unexpected forms.” – Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews

Marthe on Friday, January 31, 2014 at 10:30 a.m.
What We Hide
Written by Marthe Jocelyn
Hardcover | 288 Pages | Ages 14+
ISBN 978-1-77049-642-2
eBook 978-1-77049-644-6
Jenny and her brother Tom are off to England. Tom to university to dodge the Vietnam draft, Jenny to be the new girl at Illington Hall, which the students call Ill Hall. This is Jenny’s chance to finally be special and stand out, so when she arrives she tells everybody a lie. But in the small world of Ill Hall, everyone has secrets. Jenny pretends she has a boyfriend. Robbie and Luke pretend they don’t. Brenda won’t tell what happened with the school doctor. Percy won’t tell about his famous dad. Oona lies to everyone. Penelope lies only to herself.

Marthe and Richard on Friday, January 31, 2014 at 2:05 p.m
Viminy Crowe’s Comic Book
Written by Marthe Jocelyn and Richard Scrimger
Illustrated by Claudia Davila
Hardcover | 336 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN 978-1-77049-479-4
eBook 978-1-77049-480-0
When chubby, geeky Wylder Wallace spills lunch on cool and aloof Addy Crowe at Toronto’s Comicon, she dashes to the bathroom, leaving behind the latest issue of her uncle’s steampunk comic hit. Wylder, a fan of the Flynn comics, opens this new one eagerly, astounded to see the girl who was just yelling at him inside the comic. Fascinated, he follows Addy into the bathroom, and the adventure begins…

Follow @TundraBooks, @nataleghent, @EricRWalters, @scissorhouse, and @richardscrimger on twitter! You can also follow #OLASC14 for the latest news and updates!